Wollondilly Council has a five year plan for when and how we are going to do work across our road network which is called the Capital Works Program. This program doesn’t cover all the work that needs to be done on our roads but focuses on our priorities over the next five years. This program is developed through the use of road condition data, traffic volume and condition modelling to work out what roads need to be scheduled, when they will occur and the type of work that needs to happen to improve the road. This is reviewed annually when we prepare our yearly Operational Plan.

Whilst there is a lot of work that needs to be done on our road network, it can’t all be achieved in the five years covered in the Capital Works Program; so the projects that fall outside of the five year plan are part of our Long Term Transport Priorities Program. As work continues to get completed within the Capital Works Program, more projects from the Long Term Transport Priorities Program can be assessed and included in the next Capital Works Program or alternatively, if additional funding becomes available- beyond what is allocated for the Capital Works Program.

You can view upcoming roadworks via our Roadwork Notifications page.

Our Asset Management Strategy details the future of assets in the Shire including the renewal of existing assets and the introduction of new assets to our portfolio. The strategy covers areas including roads, buildings, parks, transport and more.

Roads are the biggest component of the asset maintenance backlog and are seen as the most important asset class by the Community. Council Delivery Program assigns the largest Capital Budget for the repair of our Roads. The challenge for roads asset maintenance is to stop further deterioration while reconstructing already failed roads given the backlog will be addressed over a relatively long period (ie ten years). This will require a balance approach of preventative treatments as well as full reconstructions.

View our 10-year Create Wollondilly Asset Management Strategy.

One of the most common things we hear from the community about roadworks is...

"Why are you resurfacing that road!? It looks perfectly OK to me. You should be spending our rates on roads that really need fixing!"

Although you may see us doing roadworks that seem to be unnecessary or of low priority there's actually good reason for this work. We all know it's a false economy to wait until paint is flaking before you repaint. If you do that, the job ends up being a lot bigger and more expensive, often with more repairs being needed. Better to paint at regular intervals over time to keep the surface performing its function as a protective layer.

Looking after roads is similar. While the road structure underneath (the "pavement") is designed to last for up to 80 years, the surface lasts only 10-15 years. If left to deteriorate, water seeping through the surface will damage the pavement requiring more expensive repairs. This is why Council's Asset Management Strategy considers the life cycle of a typical road and separates roadworks into 3 phases.

• Phase 1: Surface Treatment

The road surface is less than 10-15 years old with little or no surface defects. Looking after roads in this phase prevents them from deteriorating to Phase 2. These surface treatments can include rejuvenation surfacing to counter the effects of oxidisation of the bitumen, micro-surfacing or just a new spray seal wearing course.

• Phase 2: Heavy Patching and Surface Treatment

These roads haven't had a surface treatment in the last 10-15 years and have some surface defects including cracks and potholes. The cost of a Phase 2 project is usually three times more than a Phase 1 project. The worst roads in Phase 2 should be prioritised first, to prevent them from deteriorating into Phase 3.

• Phase 3: Reconstruction

The roads have deteriorated to such an extent that full reconstruction is required. A Phase 3 project is usually three times more expensive than a Phase 2 project.

The majority of our roads are in Phase 1 and 2 and the challenge is to stop these roads from deteriorating into Phase 3. Over time, by intervening in Phase 1 and 2, the list of roads in Phase 3 will decrease and the overall condition of our roads will improve. This approach ensures that relatively good roads are not left to deteriorate, thereby avoiding expensive repairs in the future, while also having a road reconstruction program for those roads that are in poor condition. 

Important Information

Road Renewal Works Fact Sheet

Unformed Roads Fact Sheet

Watch our Video on why we Resurface Roads that Look Okay